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William LivingstonAmerican politician, Governor of New Jersey
Date of Birth: 30.11.1723
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of William Livingston
- Political Career
- American Revolution and Governorship
- Legacy and Descendants
- Death and Burial
Biography of William Livingston
Early Life and EducationWilliam Livingston was born in Albany, New York. He received his education in local schools and from local teachers. At the age of 14, he spent a year on a mission among the Mohawk Indians in the Mohawk Valley. After his travels, Livingston enrolled at Yale University from 1738 to 1741. He then moved to New York City, where he initially studied law and later became a clerk in the firm of James Alexander and William Smith. Livingston received his license to practice law in 1748 and soon opened his own practice in New York City. During this time, he married Susannah French, the daughter of a wealthy landowner from New Jersey.
Political Career
In 1752, Livingston organized the weekly newspaper "Independent Reflector." His active involvement in public and political affairs led him to the New York Legislature, where he worked diligently until his political allies lost power in 1769. In 1770, Livingston moved to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, where he resided in a newly built house that became known as "Liberty Hall." The house played an important role in the political life of the city, particularly due to Livingston's close association with Francis Barber's academy. Livingston's three daughters, Sarah, Susan, and Catherine, gained significant popularity in the local society. Sarah later married New York lawyer John Jay, with the ceremony taking place in Liberty Hall.
American Revolution and Governorship
Livingston quickly became one of the most influential figures among local patriots. From June 1774 to June 1776, he served in the Continental Congress. In October 1775, he became a brigadier general in the state militia and held this position until August 1776, when he was appointed as the Governor of New Jersey. Livingston remained in office until his death in 1790. During the Revolutionary War, his family spent a considerable amount of time in Parsippany, New Jersey, as Liberty Hall was frequently visited by British soldiers seeking the bounty placed on Livingston's head. In 1779, the Livingston family returned home and began rebuilding their disrupted household.
Legacy and Descendants
William Livingston and Susannah French had 13 children. One of their daughters, Susannah, became the stepmother of President William Henry Harrison. Among other notable descendants of William Livingston, Julia Kean, the wife of U.S. Secretary of State and Governor of New York Hamilton Fish, should be mentioned. In 1787, Livingston led the New Jersey delegation to the Constitutional Convention and became one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution.
Death and Burial
Livingston passed away in Elizabeth, New Jersey, at the age of 66. His body was initially buried at Trinity Church in New York City but was later transferred to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
